Tissue box holder

ABSTRACT

In one aspect there is provided a container holder having a housing comprised of a first housing jaw and a second housing jaw. The first and second housing jaws are slidably connected and movable between a normally closed configuration, a mounted configuration, and an open or expanded configuration. A biasing means biases the first housing jaw and the second housing jaw toward the normally closed configuration. At least one sliding guide is provided to slidably connect the first and second housing jaws.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application which claims priorityto, and benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.63/272,692 filed Oct. 28, 2021 and entitled, “TISSUE BOX HOLDER”, theentirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to container holders. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a holder for rectangular andcuboid parallelepipedic containers which dispense multiples ofsingle-use items, such as tissue boxes, baby wipe boxes, disposableglove boxes and disposable mask boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background information discussed below is presented to betterillustrate the novelty and usefulness of the present invention. Thisbackground information is not admitted prior art.

Consumable, single-use items such as tissues, wipes, disposable glovesand disposable masks are often provided in multiples which are housed inrectangular or cuboid parallelepipedic containers. Typically, an openingis provided on one face of the container (e.g. the top face) and thecontent (e.g. the tissues, wipes, gloves or masks) is arranged so that,when one individual item (e.g. a single tissue) is pulled from thecontainer through the container's opening, a subsequent item (e.g. thenext tissue) is also partially pulled through the opening and presentedas the next available item to be dispensed from the container. Thecontainer's bottom face will generally be a substantially planar member,having no openings and being suitable to allow a user to place thecontainer on a horizontal support surface, such as a tabletop.

This method of dispensing items from the container has a number ofadvantages, including that a user can easily grasp the partiallydispensed item (e.g., the tissue), remove it from the container, andcause the next item to be likewise partially dispensed from thecontainer. A subsequent user that needs an item from that container thenmerely pulls the next partially presented item from the container.

When the container is new and still has the bulk of the items inside(e.g., a tissue box with most of the tissues still undispensed), theweight or mass of the items inside is often sufficient to allow a userto simply grasp the partially dispensed item and pull it from thecontainer without the container being lifted up and failing to dispensethe item. However, when the container only has a few items remaining(e.g., only a few tissues left in the tissue box), the weight of thoseremaining tissues is often insufficient to allow a user to remove apartially dispensed item solely by pulling it. In such a scenario a userwill often have to hold the container down, while simultaneously pullingthe partially dispensed item. This usually requires the use of bothhands; one to grasp and withdraw the item, the other to hold thecontainer down.

There are several occasions when it is not desirable for a user to holddown the container while pulling a partially dispensed item. Forexample, a parent who is changing diapers on a baby will often need onehand to control and hold the baby, thereby leaving only one handavailable to attempt to remove the item (e.g. a tissue or a baby wipe)from the container. Additionally, in certain situations multiple usersmay be withdrawing items from the container in a serial fashion, oneafter the other; e.g. in a health care environment. In such a case itmay be undesirable for each of these multiple users to be touching thecontainer, as this may contaminate the container surface and transmitpathogens or the like between subsequent users.

As such, it is better for users to only grasp their individual item andhave no need to touch the container surface (e.g. visitors entering ahospital who pull a disposable mask from a container). Moreover,disposable items such as tissues are often placed on a bedside table. Insuch a scenario it is easier for a user to just reach over with one handand pull out a tissue from the container, especially if the user isinjured or has limited mobility. However, if the tissue box is almostempty, a single-handed pull attempt to remove the tissue from the boxwill often result in just lifting the box from the bedside table. Theuser laying in bed will then have to turn over, perhaps disturb theirpartner, or deal with having limited mobility, and attempt a two-handedremoval of the tissue from the box.

While there are container holders that can mount to a solid surface, andthereby facilitate easy single-handed withdrawals of items from suchcontainers, these holders are typically mounted to a surface usingfasteners. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,117 to Blanchard discloses acontainer holder which is mounted on a vertical surface such as a wallusing screws which are inserted through the holes in a backplate of theholder. While such conventional container holders may work in certainsituations, it is often undesirable to fasten a container holderdirectly to a surface (e.g. it would be undesirable to fasten a tissuebox holder to ones bedside table, thereby ruining the table surface'sfinish).

Therefore, what is needed is holder for container boxes that overcomesthe above-noted disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a container holderhaving a housing comprised of a first housing jaw and a second housingjaw. The first and second housing jaws are slidably connected andmovable between a normally closed configuration, a mountedconfiguration, and an open or expanded configuration. A biasing meansbiases the first housing jaw and the second housing jaw toward thenormally closed configuration. At least one sliding guide is provided toslidably connect the first and second housing jaws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, several aspects of the present invention areillustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in detailin the figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a tissue boxholder, showing a pair of mated housing jaws in an expandedconfiguration;

FIG. 2 is another top perspective view of the tissue box holder of FIG.1 , showing the pair of mated housing jaws in a contractedconfiguration;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the tissue box holder of FIG. 1 ,showing the pair of mated housing jaws in the contracted configuration;

FIG. 4 a is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a housingjaw;

FIG. 4 b is a top perspective view of one end of the housing jaw of FIG.4 a;

FIG. 5 a is a top view of the housing jaw of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 5 b is a bottom view of the housing jaw of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of a tissue box holder, in anexpanded configuration;

FIG. 7 a is a top view of one of the housing jaws of the tissue boxholder of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 7 b is a side view of the housing jaw of FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 7 c is a bottom view of the housing jaw of FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 7 d is a top perspective view of the housing jaw of FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 7 e is another top perspective view of the tissue box holder ofFIG. 6 , in a contracted configuration;

FIG. 7 f is a top perspective view of the housing jaws of the tissue boxholder of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 7 g is a bottom perspective view of the housing jaws of the tissuebox holder of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 a is a top perspective view of yet another embodiment of a tissuebox holder, in an expanded configuration;

FIG. 8 b is another top perspective view of the tissue box holder ofFIG. 8 a , in a contracted configuration;

FIG. 8 c is a bottom perspective view of the tissue box holder of FIG. 8a , in a contracted configuration, about to be placed on a container;

FIG. 8 d is a bottom, side perspective view of the tissue box holder ofFIG. 8 a , in a mounted configuration placed on a container;

FIG. 8 e is a side perspective view of the tissue box holder of FIG. 8 a, in the mounted configuration clamped onto a tissue box container;

FIG. 9 a is a series of schematic views illustrating the installation offour non-slip members on the bottom of an embodiment of the tissue boxholder in the mounted configuration clamped onto a tissue box container;

FIG. 9 b is a series of schematic views illustrating the installation offour non-slip members on the bottom of an embodiment of the tissue boxholder and placement of a fastener through one of the housing jaws;

FIG. 10 a is a top view of another embodiment of a tissue box holder, inan expanded configuration;

FIG. 10 b is a top perspective view of one of the housing jaws of thetissue box holder of FIG. 10 a;

and

FIG. 10 c is a partially exploded, top perspective view of the tissuebox holder of FIG. 10 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of exampleonly and without limitation to the combination of features necessary forcarrying the invention into effect. Reference is to be had to theFigures in which identical reference numbers identify similarcomponents. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures are shown in schematic or diagrammatic form in the interest ofclarity and conciseness.

A first embodiment of the container holder 10 of the present inventionis shown in FIGS. 1-5 b. Another embodiment of the container holder 10of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6-7 g. Yet another embodimentof the container holder 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8a-8 e . Still yet another embodiment of the container holder 10 of thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 10 a-10 c . In all theseembodiments, the container holder 10 is preferably adapted to accept, ormount, a rectangular or cuboid parallelepipedic container that holdsconsumable, single-use items such as tissues, wipes, disposable glovesand disposable masks. In a preferred embodiment, the container holder 10is adapted to accept a container that holds tissues, i.e. a tissue boxTB (e.g. see FIG. 8 e ). When the container holder 10 is holding atissue box TB, it may then also be referred to as a tissue box holder10.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5 b, the basic elements of a first embodimentof the container holder 10 includes a housing 12 comprising a firsthousing jaw 12′ and a second housing jaw 12″. First housing jaw 12′ andsecond housing jaw 12″ are slidably connected and movable between anormally closed or contracted configuration C, a mounted configuration M(wherein a container TB is mounted, clamped or sandwiched between saidjaws 12′, 12″), and an open or expanded configuration E (wherein acontainer TB may be placed between, or removed from, the housing jaws12, 12″).

The container holder 10 further comprises at least one sliding guide 30,to slidably connect the first housing jaw 12′ and the second housing jaw12″ and thereby forming the housing 12. The at least one sliding guide30 provides a sliding mechanism enabling movement of the housing jaws12, 12″ (and housing 12) between the expanded configuration E, themounted configuration M and the contracted configuration C. Slidingguide 30 preferably comprises a key or post member 32 on one housing jaw(e.g. on first housing jaw 12′) which slidably mates or cooperates witha corresponding keyway or passage member 34 on the other housing jaw(e.g. on the second housing jaw 12″). Preferably, passage member 34 hasan internal passage 34 i of sufficient dimensions to slidable acceptpost member 32 therethrough. More preferably, passage member 34 isposition on one housing jaw (e.g. on second housing jaw 12″) so as toslidably accept, and cooperate with, post member 32 that is positionedon the other housing jaw (e.g. on the first housing jaw 12′).Advantageously, the at least one sliding guide 30 maintains the firstand second housing jaws 12′, 12″ in a mated or cooperated configuration(e.g. see FIGS. 1-3 ) while they are moved between the expandedconfiguration E, the mounted configuration M and the contractedconfiguration C.

The first housing jaw 12′ and the second housing jaw 12″ are eachpreferably identical housing jaws, each having one post member 32 andone passage member 34, with said post member 32 and said passage member34 positioned so as to slidably engage and cooperate with acorresponding post member 32 and passage member 34 on the other jaw;i.e. when the first housing jaw 12′ and the second housing jaw 12″ areassembled and mated in a mirrored configuration to form the housing 12.As such, when the identical first housing jaw 12′ and second housing jaw12″ are slidably engaged with each other (see FIGS. 1-2 ), the housing12 will have a pair of sliding guides 30 wherein said jaws 12′, 12″ canbe slid relative to each other for sandwiching a container, such as atissue box TB, therebetween (e.g. see FIGS. 8 d-8 e ). Advantageously,by having identical housing jaws 12′, 12″ oriented and mated in amirrored configuration to form the housing 12, only one single mouldneeds to be prepared to manufacture said housing jaws 12′, 12″; therebyreducing and simplifying manufacturing of the housing 12.

The first and second housing jaws 12′, 12″ preferably each comprise abase member 12 b, which may be a substantially planar member. Each basemember 12 b further comprises a first or lower surface 121 and a secondor upper surface 12 u. The terms “lower” and “upper” are used herein asrespective references to the orientation of the container holder 10 whenplaced on a substantially horizontal support surface, such as a tabletopsurface. However, there may be uses of the present disclosure where thecontainer holder 10 may be used in different orientations or mounted toother furniture or surfaces, such as in a substantially verticalorientation on the side of a cabinet; such by means of fasteners orscrews 45 through openings 12 o in one of the housing jaws (e.g. jaw 12″in FIG. 2 ), while the other jaw (e.g. jaw 12′) is left to sliderelative to the side of said cabinet.

Preferably the at least one sliding guide 30 (i.e. the post member 32and passage member 34) is positioned on the upper surface 12 u (e.g. seeFIGS. 1-2 ). More preferably, the lower surface 121 of each of the firstand second housing jaws 12′, 12″ remains substantially planar so as toallow a user to place the container holder 10 on a tabletop or othersubstantially planar support surface (e.g. see FIG. 8 e ).

The container holder 10 further comprises at least one biasing means 20which biases the first housing jaw 12′ and the second housing jaw 12″toward the normally closed or contracted configuration and retains thefirst and second housing jaws 12′, 12″ in the normal closed orcontracted configuration, as well as retaining it in the mountedconfiguration while holding a container TB. Biasing means 20 maycomprise an elastic member 20 e (such as an elastic band, see FIG. 7 e), or it may comprise an extension spring 20 s (e.g. see FIG. 8 b ). Ifbiasing means 20 comprises an elastic member 20 e, said member 20 e ispreferably formed as an endless band having two ends 20 e′ and 20 e″looped around pin members 22 which project a short distance above theupper surface 12 u of each of the first and second housing jaws 12′, 12″(e.g. see FIG. 7 e ). If biasing means 20 comprises an extension spring20 s, said spring 20 s preferably comprise hooks or loops on either endof its two ends 20 s′ and 20 s″ looped around pin members 22 or loopmember 221 which project a short distance above the upper surface 12 uof each of the first and second housing jaws 12′, 12″ (e.g. see FIG. 8 b).

Preferably, the first and second housing jaws 12′, 12″ each comprise aperipheral side wall member 14 on, or projecting from, the upper surface12 u. As such, peripheral side wall member 14 is a raised memberrelative to the bottom member 12 b and is preferably substantiallypositioned around at least part of the periphery of the bottom member 12(see FIGS. 1-2 ). More preferably, the peripheral side wall member 14 atleast partially supports a container (such as a tissue box TB) when saidcontainer TB is placed or mounted inside the container holder 10 (e.g.see FIG. 8 e ). Even more preferably, the height 14 h of the peripheralside wall member 14 is greater than the height 30 h of the at least onesliding guide 30 (see FIG. 4 a ) and the at least one biasing means 20.Advantageously, when the peripheral side wall member 14 supports acontainer TB, the bottom of said container TB will be raised above theupper surface 12 u to a sufficient height (e.g. to height 14 h) to clearover the height 30 h of the at least one sliding guide 30, and the atleast one biasing means 20, and thereby not interfere with the slidingand mating functionality of the post and passage members 32, 34, norwith the biasing action of the biasing means 20.

Still even more preferably, one or more container support members 15 areprovided on the upper surface to provide additional support to anycontainer TB that is placed in the container holder 10. Preferably, thecontainer support members 15 also have a height 15 h which is greaterthan the height 30 h of the at least one sliding guide 30 and the atleast one biasing means 20. Advantageously, container support members 15will likewise supports a container TB and raise its bottom above theupper surface 12 u to a sufficient height (e.g. to height 15 h) to clearover the height 30 h of the at least one sliding guide 30, and the atleast one biasing means 20.

The peripheral side wall members 14 of the first and second housing jaws12′, 12″ preferably further comprises one or more pinch points orgripping ribs 14 r which serve to grab the sides of a container TB (suchas a tissue box) near the bottom of said box TB when held within thecontainer holder 10 in the mounted configuration M (see FIG. 8 e ). Thegripping ribs 14 r are preferably located such that they securely gripthe sidewall of the tissue box TB just above its bottom or base (e.g.3-10 mm above the bottom of the tissue box's base). As seen best in FIG.8 e , this causes an inward deformation of the tissue box sidewallclosely adjacent the base or bottom. However, the remainder of thetissue box's sidewall, particularly the portion visible above theperipheral wall members 14, maintains its planar, non-deformed state.

The container holder 10 preferably further comprises an arm member 16 oneach end. Said arm members 16 are provided with hook end 16 h whichcooperate with recess 18 to prevent the first and second housing jaws12′, 12″ from being pulled beyond the expanded configuration E.Advantageously, by preventing the first and second housing jaws 12′, 12″from being pulled too far apart, e.g. beyond the expanded configurationE, the at least one sliding guide 30 does not disengage (or break) andthe biasing means is not stretched or pulled beyond its limit (e.g.damaging the elastic member or extension spring). More advantageously,arm members 16 telescope along an inside portion of the periphery sidewall 14, thereby proving a solidly looking (visual) side wall,regardless of whether the container holder 10 is the expanded orcontracted configuration. Even more advantageously, arm members 16prevent or reduce the likelihood of a user's fingers getting caughtbetween the first and second housing jaws 12′, 12″ when the containerholder 10 is biased towards the contracted configuration; therebyreducing the chance of pinched fingers.

The weight of the container holder 10 is preferably in the range of 175grams to 180 grams. The inventor has found that a weight of at least 175grams for the container holder 10 is sufficient to prevent lifting of acontainer, such as a tissue box TB, off of a surface, even if thecontainer only has a few items (e.g. tissues) remaining inside. Ifadditional weight or mass needs to be added to an embodiment ofcontainer holder 10, a plurality of container support members 15′ can beadded to the first and second housing jaws 12′, 12″ (see FIG. 7 d ), orone or more weights W may be fitted into a recess or pocket P in thehousing jaws 12, 12″ and then covered with a cover V (see FIG. 10 c ).

Preferably, the container holder 10 further comprises one or morenon-slip members 40, such as furniture pads, gripper feet or rubberfeet, positioned on the lower surface 121 of each of the first andsecond housing jaws 12′, 12″ that comprise the housing 12. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 9 a , four such non-slip members 40 can be placedin a spaced arrangement at each of the corners of the bottom of thehousing 12. Advantageously, such placement of non-slip members willreduce or eliminate sliding of the container holder 10 when placed onsmooth surfaces, such as a tabletop.

Alternatively, and as illustrated in FIG. 9 b , four such non-slipmembers 40 can also be placed in a spaced arrangement at each of thecorners of the bottom surface 121 of one of the housing jaws, e.g. afirst housing jaw 12′. One or more fasteners 45 (such as screws) canthen be fastened through openings 12 o to mount the container holder(via the first housing jaw 12′) to a mounting surface MS (e.g. to theside of a cabinet). Advantageously, the non-slip members 40 will elevatethat housing jaw 12′ a small distance D from such mounting surface MS,thereby also elevating the other, second housing jaw 12″ a similardistance D above the mounting surface MS, thereby allowing the secondhousing jaw 12″ to easily slide relative to the first housing jaw 12′without any frictional interference with the mounting surface MS.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variousmodifications to the invention as described herein will be possiblewithout falling outside the scope of the invention. In the claims, theword “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not excludeother elements being present. The indefinite article “a” before a claimfeature does not exclude more than one of the features being present.

1. A container holder (10) comprising: a housing (12) comprising a firsthousing jaw (12′) and a second housing jaw (12″); at least one biasingmeans 20; and at least one sliding guide (30), to slidably connect thefirst housing jaw (12′) and the second housing jaw (12″); wherein thefirst housing jaw (12′) and second housing jaw (12″) are slidablyconnected and movable between a normally closed configuration (C), amounted configuration (M), and an open or expanded configuration (E). 2.The container holder of claim 1 wherein the first housing jaw (12′) andthe second housing jaw (12″) are each preferably identical housing jawsand slidably connected in a mirrored configuration to form the housing(12).
 3. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the sliding guide (30)comprises a post member (32) on the first housing jaw (12′) whichslidably cooperates with a passage member (34) on the second housing jaw(12″).
 4. The container holder of claim 2 wherein the sliding guide (30)comprises a post member (32) on the first housing jaw (12′) whichslidably cooperates with a passage member (34) on the second housing jaw(12″).
 5. The container holder of claim 1 wherein the sliding guide (30)comprises: a post member (32) on each of the first and second housingjaws; and a passage member (34) on each of the first or second housingjaws; wherein the post member (32) on one of each first and secondhousing jaw slidably cooperates with a corresponding passage member (34)on each of the other of said first or second housing jaw to maintain thefirst and second housing jaws in a mated configuration when said firstand second housing jaws are moved between the closed configuration (C),the mounted configuration (M), and the open or expanded configuration(E).
 6. The container holder of claim 2 wherein the sliding guide (30)comprises: a post member (32) on each of the first and second housingjaws; and a passage member (34) on each of the first or second housingjaws; wherein the post member (32) on one of each first and secondhousing jaw slidably cooperates with a corresponding passage member (34)on each of the other of said first or second housing jaw to maintain thefirst and second housing jaws in a mated configuration when said firstand second housing jaws are moved between the closed configuration (C),the mounted configuration (M), and the open or expanded configuration(E).
 7. The container holder of claim 1 further comprising: a peripheralside wall member (14) on each of first and second housing jaws; and atleast one container support member (15) on each of first and secondhousing jaws; wherein said peripheral side wall members (14) and said atleast one container support members (15) support container (TB) that isplaced in the container holder (10).
 8. The container holder of claim 2further comprising: a peripheral side wall member (14) on each of firstand second housing jaws; and at least one container support member (15)on each of first and second housing jaws; wherein said peripheral sidewall members (14) and said at least one container support members (15)support container (TB) that is placed in the container holder (10). 9.The container holder of claim 5 further comprising: a peripheral sidewall member (14) on each of first and second housing jaws; and at leastone container support member (15) on each of first and second housingjaws; wherein said peripheral side wall members (14) and said at leastone container support members (15) support container (TB) that is placedin the container holder (10).
 10. The container holder of claim 6further comprising: a peripheral side wall member (14) on each of firstand second housing jaws; and at least one container support member (15)on each of first and second housing jaws; wherein said peripheral sidewall members (14) and said at least one container support members (15)support container (TB) that is placed in the container holder (10). 11.The container holder of claim 1 wherein the first and second housingjaws each further comprise an arm member (16) having a hook end (16 h)and a recess (18); and wherein said hook end (16 h) cooperates with saidrecess (18) to prevent the first and second housing jaws from beingpulled beyond the expanded configuration (E).
 12. The container holderof claim 2 wherein the first and second housing jaws each furthercomprise an arm member (16) having a hook end (16 h) and a recess (18);and wherein said hook end (16 h) cooperates with said recess (18) toprevent the first and second housing jaws from being pulled beyond theexpanded configuration (E).
 13. The container holder of claim 7 whereinthe first and second housing jaws each further comprise an arm member(16) having a hook end (16 h) and a recess (18); wherein said hook end(16 h) cooperates with said recess (18) to prevent the first and secondhousing jaws from being pulled beyond the expanded configuration (E);and wherein said arm members 16 telescope along an inside portion of theperiphery side wall
 14. 14. The container holder of claim 8 wherein thefirst and second housing jaws each further comprise an arm member (16)having a hook end (16 h) and a recess (18); wherein said hook end (16 h)cooperates with said recess (18) to prevent the first and second housingjaws from being pulled beyond the expanded configuration (E); andwherein said arm members 16 telescope along an inside portion of theperiphery side wall
 14. 15. The container holder of claim 9 wherein thefirst and second housing jaws each further comprise an arm member (16)having a hook end (16 h) and a recess (18); wherein said hook end (16 h)cooperates with said recess (18) to prevent the first and second housingjaws from being pulled beyond the expanded configuration (E); andwherein said arm members 16 telescope along an inside portion of theperiphery side wall
 14. 16. The container holder of claim 10 wherein thefirst and second housing jaws each further comprise an arm member (16)having a hook end (16 h) and a recess (18); wherein said hook end (16 h)cooperates with said recess (18) to prevent the first and second housingjaws from being pulled beyond the expanded configuration (E); andwherein said arm members 16 telescope along an inside portion of theperiphery side wall 14.